Billy and the Big Stick

Billy Barlow, American superintendent of the electric-lighting plant in the capital of Hayti, loves Claire Ducrot, daughter of Widow Ducrot in the little French-speaking city. The president of Hayti refuses to pay Billy's salary and the widow plans to give Claire to Paillard, a widower. Billy, desperate, shuts off the city's light supply by going to bed and refusing to get up until paid. As the day for Claire's wedding draws near, Billy plots how to outwit her mother and elope. On the day they are to elope, Billy finds himself unable to do so because the president once more failed to "come across" with his salary. About this time, an American warship with a moving picture company enters the harbor of Hayti. Billy arranged for the film star to visit the king's palace, wearing a naval uniform, and the monarch thought the day of settlement had come and forked over Billy's salary. The same night on which Claire is to marry the widower the electric light system of the city suddenly fails again and the next day it is found that Billy and his sweetheart had sailed away on the American warship.